The fight was supposed to “unify” the heavyweight championship. Holyfield is recognized by the WBA and IBF, Lewis by the WBC. No sense spelling out these acronymic idiocies, which have no reason for existing aside from the money they skim off every fight they “sanction.” The judges reached an ecumenical decision, one for each fighter, one for a draw. The IBF judge, Eugenia Williams, voted for its champ, Holyfield, even awarding him the fifth round, clearly Lewis’s biggest. Williams, whose expenses were paid by Don King, Holyfield’s promoter, was promptly revealed by the New York Post to have recently filed for bankruptcy. She stood by her decision, explaining cogently, “I heard punches, but I didn’t see them.” When her vision was restored by a videotape of round 5, Williams admitted that Lewis won it. Meanwhile King and the Acronymic Three called for a rematch–to be promoted by King. But who could endure Stench II?
